He's Wayne and I'm Antoinette. Since July 2010 we've been traveling North America, living full-time in our motorhome (see it at page bottom) with two rescued dogs. Our adventures are chronicled as a virtual retirement and travel memoir. Click a tab below to see our camping history, get answers to full-time RV questions, see our travel map, our dogs, favorite places and things we've noticed along the way.

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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

iPad 2: Can An Old Dog Learn A New Trick?

My friend, Pam, loves technology and is an avid "Apple eater" so when she showed me her iPad2 while we were at Paradise Oaks in Bushnell, I watched her easily swipe the screen and was quickly convinced that I must have an iPad2.

I've always been a user of the traditional computer products and have many years invested in mastering Microsoft technology. My current laptop and previous personal computers were Dell and/or Gateway and I've enjoy using them. Hearing so many positives about Apple's genius, I felt I'd better try it out.

It took several weeks to find the iPad2 in the color and with the capabilities I'd decided to buy, but in late January, at a Ft. Myers Best Buy store, I found it. The sales representative answered all my questions; the most important being the ability to return the product for full refund, without restocking fees, if needed. I explained my computer needs -- basic word processing, blogging, photo management, personal online business, Internet research and of course, Facebook socialization with my gazillions of friends. LOL.

My sleek new iPad2 -- ready to unveil.

In the end I bought the iPad, a fold-up keyboard, a glare shield (for outside use of the iPad) and installation of the glare screen for a whopping total of $825. Jeepers. It's gonna be worth it.

It was love at first swipe. Small, thin, lightweight and easy to use. The icons (or apps I guess they're called) were cute and easy to open. I was a bit disappointed that I had to input credit card information to download the free apps but reluctantly did so. The first few days were fun but not seriously productive in the things I use a computer to do.

First problem encountered was the lack of using Google's Picasa for my photos. Second problem was that I wouldn't be able to download photos from my cheap little Nikon Coolpix to the iPad. Bummer. I found what seemed to be a reasonable facsimile of Picasa in the free apps, but it proved to be no good. Drat. Next problem was that I was still tied to a tabletop using the keyboard I'd purchased and furthermore, the keyboard prevented using the iPad camera the way I wanted and without the keyboard, I'd need yet another cover. Finally, I found using anything other than games and Facebook with the iPad to be cumbersome.

In hindsight, I think I didn't truly understand the real purpose of the iPad. I wanted a laptop. After just over a week, I made the critical decision to return it for a lightweight laptop.

Oh well... As Wayne says, "if you hadn't tried it, you would have never known and you would have regretted not trying it." Well said.

When the time came to leave Michigan's Upper Peninsula we aborted our plan to take the southern route and we opted, instead, to backtrac...

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As adoptive parents of two abused and neglected dogs, we often hear of pets in urgent need of food, medical care and/or transportation to safety.

We make contributions to animal rescue agencies with whom we have personal knowledge and know our donation will go directly to save pets -- not to pay high salaries. Those to whom we donate are all or mostly volunteer agencies.

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In God We Trust

1st Region 101 Artillery Group

Air Defense Command

Auburn University

Class of 1972

CMA

Columbia Military Academy, Class of 1965

American Legion

Post #1 Birmingham

Who Are These Old People?

I just don't know about these two old people hiding out in our midst. They seem to 'hobo' along everywhere we go. Although I've never gotten a real close look, I caught a glimpse of her in the mirror. She is about my height, but is much heavier with lots of gray hair and wrinkles. He looks a lot like Wayne without hair.

We know they're here -- I've found their toenail clippings in the shower. Lately they've been putting food stains onto the fronts of our shirts and they never pick up any of the crumbs they let fall to the floor.

These old people really have some odd habits too. Sometimes in the middle of the night I hear them scooting around the house going to and from the kitchen and bathroom. They mark book pages with clothes pins and put rubber bands around the checkbook. At night they hide stuff from us. It started with the car keys, and glasses -- then the cellphone... now they're hiding important papers. They think it's funny I guess.

These old geezers have an insatiable appetite. As a matter of fact, all they do is eat, take naps and watch old movies on tv. I think there's something wrong with them. They even talk back to the tv! And believe me... they have an opinion about everything!

At least they go to bed early. But then again, they sure get up early too!